Grilling Utility Box System

The present disclosure relates to a grilling utility box system, and more specifically to a grilling utility box system configured to organize and hold grilling accessories.

A user may use a grill to cook food items such as vegetables and meat. While using the grill, the user may require a lot of items/accessories such tongs, knives, a cutting board, etc. to efficiently cook the food items. Sometimes, it may become difficult for the user to quickly locate and manage all the accessories during the cooking process, which may cause inconvenience to the user and may even result in suboptimal food preparation. Thus, there is a need for a device or a system that enables the user to conveniently organize and store such accessories when the user may be cooking food items on a grill.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

The present disclosure is directed towards a grilling utility box system that may be configured to store and organize items or accessories that may be required for grilling. For example, a user may use the grilling utility box system to store items such as knives, tongs, aluminum foil, paper towel, butcher paper, parchment paper, salt, pepper, cutting board, etc., which may be required to cook food on a grill.

The grilling utility box system may include a hollow bin and a lid that may cover the hollow bin. In some aspects, the lid may be hinged at a bin top edge. In other aspects, the lid may be removably attached to a bin top portion. The lid may be configured to move between an open position and a closed position to cover or uncover the hollow bin. The lid may include a lid top surface and a lid bottom surface.

The lid may include a cutting board that may be attached to the lid top surface. The cutting board may be screwed or removably attached to the lid top surface. In some aspects, the lid may further include magnets on the lid top surface to facilitate the user to conveniently place the knives on the lid top surface (e.g., after using the cutting board). In addition, the lid may include one or more brackets (at the lid bottom surface) to hold rolled goods such as aluminum foil, paper towel, butcher paper, parchment paper, etc. Further, the lid may include additional magnets at the lid bottom surface to store knives (e.g., when the knives may not be required to be used).

In some aspects, the grilling utility box system may further include utility holder(s) that may be pivotally attached to a bin sidewall. The utility item holders may include a beverage holder, a hook tray, a storage basket, and/or the like. The utility item holders may store items such as beverage, tong, salt, pepper, etc. In some aspects, the utility item holders may be pivotally attached to inner surfaces or top edges of bin sidewall(s), and may be configured to move/rotate between a first position and a second position. The first position may be in a bin interior portion and the second position may be in a bin exterior portion. Stated another way, the first position may be in proximity to a sidewall inner surface and the second position may be in proximity to a sidewall outer/exterior surface.

In further aspects, the grilling utility box may include a garbage holder that may be positioned at the sidewall outer surface, which may be used to store trash/garbage. In some aspects, the garbage holder may be a ring like structure to which a trash bag may be attached. The garbage holder may be configured to pivotally move between a closed position and an open position, when the lid moves between the open position and the closed position. When the garbage holder may be in open position, the user may store trash in the trash bag attached to the garbage holder.

The present disclosure discloses a grilling utility box that is a portable box, which enables the user to manage all the items/accessories required for grilling in one place, and conveniently perform operations such as cutting using the grilling utility box.

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

depicts an example environmentin which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. The environmentmay include a usergrilling a food item (such as vegetable, meat etc.) on a grill. The environmentmay further include a utility box systemor systemthat may be configured to organize and store items (e.g., grilling accessories) that may be required by the userto conveniently and efficiently cook the food items on the grill. The items/accessories may include, but are not limited to, knives, tongs, a roll of aluminum foil, paper towel, butcher paper, parchment paper, salt, pepper, a cutting board, and/or the like. The usermay place the systemin proximity to the grillto allow the userto conveniently use and manage the items at one place while cooking food on the grill.

The systemmay include a hollow bin(hereinafter referred to as bin), and a lidconfigured to cover the bin. In some aspects, the lidmay be hinged (or pivotally attached via a hinge) at a top edge/portion of the bin, thereby enabling the lidto rotate about the bin's top edge. The usermay rotate the lidto move the lidbetween a closed position (at which the lidcompletely covers the bin's top portion) and an open position (at which the liduncovers the bin's top portion, thereby enabling the userto access the bin's hollow interior portion).

In other aspects, the lidmay be removably attached to the bin(e.g., to a bin top portion). In this case as well, the lidmay be configured to move between the open position and the closed position. The usermay remove the lidfrom the bin's top portion to move the lidto the open position, and cover or place the lidat the bin's top portion to move the lidto the closed position. In the closed position, the lidmay completely cover the bin(specifically, the bin's top portion), as shown in. In the open position, the lidmay partially or completely uncover the bin(e.g., from the bin's top portion), as shown in.

In some aspects, the usermay keep the lidin the closed position when the systemmay not be in use. The usermay move the lidto the open position to access the items stored in the systemor when the usermay be using the grillto cook food. In some aspects, the lidmay include a lid top surfaceand a lid bottom surface(as shown in). The lid bottom surfacemay face the bin's interior portion when the lidis in the closed position, and the lid top surfacemay be disposed opposite to the bin's interior portion when the lidis in the closed portion. The lidmay include a gasket or a seal (not shown) at the lid bottom surfaceto securely attach the lidto the bin top portion. The use of the gasket or seal may provide waterproof connection between the binand the lid, when the lidmay be moved or secured in the closed position.

In some aspects, one or more system units/elements (e.g., the bin, the lid, and/or the like) may be made of plastic. In further aspects, the system units may be made of any other material such as steel or any other metal. In some aspects, the binand the lidmay be made of same material. Alternatively, the binand the lidmay be made of different materials. In further aspects, the binand the lidmay be made of waterproof material, so that water may not seep into the bin's interior portion when the lidis in the closed position. In some aspects, the systemmay be shaped as a cube or a cuboid, as shown in. In this case, the binmay be shaped as a cube or a cuboid, and the lidmay be shaped as a square or rectangular plate. In alternative aspects, the systemmay have any other shape, without departing from the present disclosure scope. The systemmay be of any dimension. For example, the systemmay have a height, length and breadth in a range of 20 cm-40 cm.

The binmay include a baseand a plurality of sidewalls,(collectively referred as sidewalls) attached to the base. In an exemplary aspect, when the systemis shaped as a cube or cuboid, a sidewall plane of each sidewallmay be perpendicular to a base plane. For example, as shown in, when the base plane is aligned with the X-Y plane, the sidewall plane may be aligned with the X-Z plane or the Y-Z plane. In some aspects, the baseand the sidewallsmay collectively form a bin interior portion that may be hollow and configured to store one or more items described above. Each sidewallmay include a sidewall inner surface, and a sidewall outer surfaceopposite to the sidewall inner surface (as shown in). The sidewall inner surfacemay face towards the hollow bin interior portion, and the sidewall outer surfacemay be disposed opposite to the hollow bin interior portion.

In further aspects, the systemmay include one or more telescopic legsthat may facilitate the userto adjust a system height according to user's requirements. In some aspects, the telescopic legsmay be connected to the base(e.g., a base outer surface that may face the ground). Further, in some aspects, the telescopic legsmay be made of the same material as the bin. Alternatively, the telescopic legsmay be made of a different material than the material used to make the bin.

The systemmay include a plurality of additional elements and features that may enhance user's convenience of using the systemand storing the grilling accessories, when the usercooks food using the grill. The details of such additional elements and features are described below in conjunction with subsequent figures.

depicts a first example view of the systemin accordance with the present disclosure. Specifically,depicts a back isometric view of the systemwith the lidin the open position. As described above, the lidmay include the lid top surfaceand the lid bottom surface(opposite to the lid top surface). In some aspects, the lid bottom surfacemay face towards the base(or the bin interior portion), and the lid top surfacemay face away from the base(or the bin interior portion), when the lidmay be in a closed position.

In one exemplary aspect, the lidmay include a cutting boardthat may be attached to the lid top surface. The cutting boardmay be used for cutting food items (e.g., meat, vegetables, etc.), when the usermay be cooking food using the grillwith the systemplaced in proximity to the grill. The cutting boardmay be a conventional cutting board, made of known cutting board material. In some aspects, the cutting boardmay be attached to the lid top surfaceby using one or more fasteners such as screws and/or an adhesive. In other aspects, the cutting boardmay be removably attached to the lid top surfaceby using a fastener. For example, the cutting boardmay be removably attached to the lid top surfaceby using retaining clips that may be made of plastic, or any other similar fastener. The usermay attach the cutting boardon the lidwhen the usermay need to use the cutting board(e.g., to cut food items). The lidmay provide support and stability to the cutting board, and may enable the userto conveniently cut the food. The usermay use the cutting boardwhen the lidis in the closed position, or the usermay use the cutting boardby detaching the lidoff the binand then placing the lidon a flat surface to use the cutting board. The usermay detach the cutting boardfrom the lidwhen the userrequires to clean the cutting board.

The cutting boardmay be of any shape and dimensions. In some aspects, the shape and dimensions of the cutting boardmay correspond to the shape and dimensions of the lid. For example, a cutting board length may be 30-90% of a lid length, and a cutting board width may be 40-90% of a lid width. In some aspects, the cutting boardmay be placed at any location on the lid top surface. For example, the cutting boardmay be disposed at a center portion of the lid top surface. Alternatively, the cutting boardmay be disposed at a side portion of the lid top surface(or in proximity of a lid edge).

In further aspects, the lidmay include one or more first magnet(s)that may be disposed at the lid top surface. The first magnet(s)may be disposed adjacent or in proximity to the cutting board. The first magnet(s)may be configured to magnetically attach to ferrous utility items, such as knives, tongs, etc. The first magnet(s)may enable the userto conveniently place the ferrous utility items on the lid top surfaceafter cutting food on the cutting board, thereby significantly enhancing user's convenience of quickly and efficiently managing and storing grilling accessories during and after usage. The magnetic coupling between the first magnet(s)and the ferrous utility items may prevent the items from falling off the lid top surface. The first magnet(s)may be of any shape and size. For example, the first magnet(s)may be circular in shape. In some aspects, the first magnet(s)may be a magnetic bar that may be configured to hold a plurality of ferrous utility items simultaneously.

depicts a second example view of the systemin accordance with the present disclosure. Specifically,depicts a front view of the systemwith the lidin the open position. In some aspects, the lidmay include one or more holders at the lid bottom surfaceto hold the items or grilling accessories. In an exemplary aspect, the lidmay include three brackets,,(collectively referred to brackets) that may be configured to hold rolled goods. The rolled goods may include, but are not limited to, a roll of aluminum foil, paper towel, butcher paper, parchment paper, and/or the like. The bracketmay be a rolled good dispenser such as a foil dispenser. In some aspects, the bracketsmay be attached to the lid bottom surfaceby using a fastener such as a screw or an adhesive. In further aspects, the bracketmay be removably attached to the lid bottom surfaceby using a fastener such as retaining clips. In further aspects, the lidmay include more or less than three brackets.

Each bracketmay be made of a horizontal rodand two vertical rods,. The horizontal rodmay be connected between the two vertical rods,. Stated another way, the vertical rods,may be connected at opposite edges of the horizontal rod. The horizontal rodand the vertical rods,may form a unified bracket piece. The vertical rods,may be configured to support/hold the opposite edges of the rolled goods, which may facilitate the user to unroll a portion of rolled goods and use it while cooking the food on the grill.

In some aspects, the bracketsmay be made of any material such as plastic, wood, steel etc. The bracketsmay be of any dimensions. In some aspects, the material and dimensions of all the bracketsmay be same. In other aspects, the material and dimensions of all the bracketsmay be different. In some aspects, the dimensions of the bracketsmay correspond to the dimensions of the lid. For example, a bracket length may be 20-70% of a lid length, and a bracket width may be 5-30% of a lid width. In some aspects, the bracketsmay be placed at any location on the lid bottom surface. For example, the bracketsmay be disposed at a center portion of the lid bottom surface. Alternatively, the bracketsmay be disposed at a side portion of the lid bottom surface(or in proximity to a lid edge).

In some aspects, the bracketsmay be reconfigurable or repositionable. Stated another way, the bracketsmay be movable and may be moved from a first position to a second position on the lid bottom surface. This enables the userto position the bracketson the lid bottom surfacebased on a rolled good type or user's preferences. For example, the usermay move the bracketsandtowards opposite edges of the lidto create more space for the bracket(e.g., to keep more space for a bracket for paper towel relative to a bracket for aluminum foil).

In further aspects, the lidmay include one or more second magnet(s)that may be disposed on the lid bottom surface. The second magnet(s)may be configured to magnetically attach with one or more ferrous utility items such as knives, tongs, etc., which may enable the userto conveniently store such items in the underside of the lid(e.g., the lid bottom surface) and protect them from ambient environment (e.g., when the items may not be in use and the lidmay be in the closed position). In further aspects, the lidmay include a sleeve (not shown) to hold the knives inside the system. The sleeve may be located on the lid bottom surface, which enables the userto slide the knives in the sleeve when the knives may not be required.

In some aspects, the second magnet(s)may be same as the first magnet(s). For example, the shape/dimension of the second magnet(s)may be same as the first magnet(s). In other aspects, the second magnet(s)may be different from the first magnet(s).

depict example utility box holders,,(collectively referred to as utility item holders) of the systemin a first position and a second position, in accordance with the present disclosure. The utility item holdersmay include, but is not limited to, a beverage holder, a hook tray, a storage basket, and/or the like. The beverage holdermay be configured to hold a cup or a glass. The hook traymay be configured to hold utensils (such as tongs, spatula, etc.) and other items. The storage basketmay be configured to hold items such containers for salt, pepper, sauces, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the utility item holdersmay be pivotally attached to one or more sidewalls,,(collectively referred as sidewalls, the sidewallsis same as the sidewallsdescribed in) via one or more hinges(as shown in) so that the utility item holdersmay be rotated via the respective hinged connection. In some aspects, the utility item holdersmay be pivotally attached to an inner surface or a top edge of the respective sidewalls. As described above, the sidewall inner surface may face towards the bin interior portion. As an example, the beverage holdermay be pivotally attached to the inner surface or the top edge of the sidewall, the hook traymay be pivotally attached to the inner surface or the top edge of the sidewall, and the storage basketmay be pivotally attached to the inner surface or the top edge of the sidewall

In some aspects, each utility item holdermay be configured to store items in an upright position. For example, the beverage holdermay hold a beverage glass in the upright position, the storage basketmay store a salt container in the upright position, and/or the like. In some aspects, an item's upright position mean that the item's longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the ground surface. In some aspects, the utility item holdersmay be configured to rotate and pivotally move between a first position and a second position such that the utility item holdersmaintain their upright positions (and the upright positions of the items stored in the respective holders, thereby not causing any spillage) in the first position and the second position. The utility item holdersmay remain attached (e.g., pivotally attached) to the respective sidewallswhen the utility item holdersmay be moved between the first position and the second position.

In some aspects, the first position may be located in proximity to a bin sidewall inner surface, and the second position may be located in proximity to a bin sidewall outer surface. Stated another way, the first position may be located in a bin interior portion and the second position may be located in a bin exterior portion. Thus, in the first position, the utility item holdersmay be inside the bin, as shown in, and in the second position, the utility item holdersmay be outside the bin, as shown in.

In some aspects, one or more utility item holdersmay include a securing mechanism that may enable the items to stay secured (and not move laterally) when the utility item holdermay be moved between the first position and the second position. For example, the storage basketmay include a netted pocket with a closable top portion(i.e., the top portion may be configured to lock or unlock). In some aspects, the top portionmay be locked/unlocked by using a fastener. The fastener may include, but is not limited to, a zipper, Velcro, snap buttons, and/or the like. The usermay keep the top portionin the locked position when the items in the storage basketmay not be required to be used (to keep the items in the upright position and secured in the storage basket), and may open/unlock the top portionwhen the userdesires to access the items in the storage basket. In further aspects, the storage basketmay include a foam or rubber like material in the bottom portion that may be configured to hold the items in the upright position in both the first position and the second position.

In some aspects, when the useropens the lid(e.g., moves the lidto the open position), the usermay manually rotate the utility item holdersto move them from the first position (or the bin interior portion) to the second position (or the bin exterior portion). When the userdesires to close the lid(or desires to move the lidto the closed position), the usermay move the utility item holdersfrom the second position to the first position. When the utility item holdersare in the second position, the usermay place the items in the utility item holders(e.g., in the hook tray) to easily access and manage them while cooking food on the grill. For example, the usermay place a tong in the hook tray to quickly access it. In addition, the usermay place a beverage container in the beverage holder. Since the items are properly organized (via the utility item holders) in the second position, the usermay not be required to locate such items inside the binwhile cooking food. When the items are not required, the usermay simply rotate the utility item holdersto move back to the first position, and close the lid.

depict an example garbage holderof the systemin a closed position and an open position, in accordance with the present disclosure. In some aspects, the systemmay include the garbage holderthat may be connected to a system's outer surface (e.g., to an exterior surface of any of the sidewalls). Specifically, the garbage holdermay be pivotally connected to a sidewall's outer or exterior surface. Here, pivotal connection means that the garbage holderis configured to rotate about its connection point at the sidewall's exterior surface. In an exemplary aspect, the garbage holdermay be shaped as a circular ring (i.e., have a ring like structure) on which the usermay removably attach a trash bag to put/hold trash. In some aspects, the garbage holdermay be permanently attached to the sidewall(e.g., sidewall). In other aspects, the garbage holdermay be removably attached to the sidewall. The garbage holdermay be made of any material including, but not limited to, plastic, steel, and/or the like. The garbage holdermay be of any dimensions. In some aspect, the diameter of the garbage holdermay be 10-60% of a sidewall length.

The garbage holdermay be configured to move between the open position and the closed position. Specifically, the garbage holdermay pivotally rotate between the open position and the closed position. In the closed position, a garbage holder plane may be parallel to a bin longitudinal axis (or a sidewall plane), as shown in. For example, as shown in, the garbage holder plane and the sidewall plane are both aligned to the Y-Z plane when the garbage holderis in the closed position. In the open position, the garbage holder plane may be perpendicular to bin longitudinal axis or the sidewall plane, as shown in. For example, as shown in, the garbage holder plane is in the X-Y plane and the sidewall plane is in the Y-Z plane when the garbage holderis in the open position.

In some aspects, the garbage holdermay automatically move between the closed position and the open position based on a lid position. For example, the garbage holdermay automatically move in the closed position when the lidis in the closed position. Similarly, the garbage holdermay move to the open position when the lidis in the open position. Stated another way, the movement of the lidmay automatically move the garbage holderbetween the closed and the open positions. In this case, the systemmay include an automated actuation mechanism that may connect the lidand the garbage holder, and may synchronize their movements as described above. In other aspects, the usermay manually move the garbage holderbetween the open position and the closed position.

When the garbage holdermay be in the open position, the usermay attach the trash bag and put trash in it.

In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “example” as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.

With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.